Container and end closure therefor



Sept. 12, 1967 R. M. MARTIN I CONTAINER AND END CLOSURE THEREFOR F'iledJune l26, 1964 S am. n m. QM. U/ m 5mm. mw. Nm. I m NW N @1W H l WUnitedStates Patent O 3,341,058 CONTAINER AND END CLOSURE THEREFOR RoyM. Martin, Henrico County, Va., assignor to Reynolds Metals Company,Richmond, Va., a corporation of Delaware Filed June 26, 1964, Ser. No.378,396 8 Claims. (Cl. 220-66) This invention relates to an improvedcontainer or the like as well as to an improved closure for such acontainer or the like.

It is well known that metallic end closures have been provided -forvarious types of Ycontainer bodies, such as container bodies formed ofcomposite fiber board and the like as well as container bodies formed ofall metallic material or the like.

Such end closures normally have a bead-forming peripheral portion forattaching the end closure to the open end of the container body.

However, it has been found that such prior known containers each has atendency to weaken the securement between the end closure and thecontainer body when such container is dropped on the end thereof or thelike because of the end thrust force created inside the droppedcontainer.

According to the teachings of this invention, however,

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inafter described and illustrated as being particularly adaptable toprovide an improved container or the like, it is to be understood thatthe various features of this invention can be utilized singly or in anylcombination thereof to provide end closures for other types ofcontainers or the like.

Therefore, this invention is not to be limited to only the embodimentsillustrated in the drawings, because the drawings are merely utilized toillustrate one of the wide variety of uses of this invention.

Referring now to FIGURE 1, an improved container of this invention isgenerally indicated by the reference an improved end closure for suchcontainer bodies or the like is provided wherein the same sets upoutwardly directed radial forces when the container is dropped, theradial forces tending to tighten the end seam of the end closure on thecontainer body and thereby withstanding the internal forces in thecontainer.

In particular, this invention provides an end closure having a depressedcentral portion so `constructed and arranged that the same has a surfacearea greater than 50% 0f the inside axial cross-sectional surface areaof the container body and when attempted to be flattened by the internalforces caused by the dropping of the container, the component radialforces on the end closure tightens the end seam thereof on the containerbody. In addition, a relatively large radius is provided in the endclosure of this invention closely adjacent the initial point of paneldepression of the end closure and near the inside container body wallwhich reduces the stiffness of the end closure in this area and enhancesthe springlike properties of the end closure during its flatteningoperation. Thus, it can be seen that the end closure of this inventionoperates in substantially the` same manner as a leaf spring to increasethe securement of the end closure on the open end of the container bodywhen that container is dropped on that end or the like.

Therefore, it is an object of this invention to provide an improvedcontainer having one or more of the novel features set forth above orhereinafter shown or described.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved end closurefor such a container or the like.

Other objects, uses and advantages of this invention are apparent from areading of this description which proceeds with reference to theaccompanying drawings forming a part thereof and wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a top perspective view of the improved container of thisinvention.

FIGURE 2 is anenlarged, fragmentary, cross-sectional view taken on line2-2 of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is a view similar to FIGURE 2 and illustrates anotherembodiment of this invention.

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged, fragmentary, cross-sectional view-illustratingone method -for forming the end closure of this invention.

While the various features of this invention are herenumeral 10 andcomprises a substantially cylindrical container body 11 having opposedopen ends 12 and 13 respectively closed by like end closures 14 and 15of this invention.

Since the end closures 14 and 15 for the container 10 of this inventionare identical, only the end closure 14 will be further described and thedetails thereof can be applied to the end closure 15 or the like.

However, it is to be understood that this invention is not to be limitedto a container which has like end closures as one of the open ends 12and 13 of the container 10 of this invention could be closed by an endclosure having a configuration different than the end closures of thisinvention or the same may include a comple'tely different type ofclosing means, such as an integral bottom wall of the container body.

One method for forming the end closure 14 of this invention isillustrated in FIGURE 4 wherein a flat blank of metallic material, suchas aluminum alloy 5154-H38 having a thickness between 0.0094 of an inchand 0.0105 of an inch is adapted to be drawn between a pair ofcooperating die means 16 and 17 to form the completed end closure 14 ofthis invention.

' While specic examples of the various dimensions and composition of theend closure 14 of this invention has been given before and hereinafter,it is to be understood that such dimensions and composition are merelyfor purposes of illustration to point out the advantages of thisinvention withouty imposing a limitation on the appended claims.

As illustrated in FIGURE 4 the die member 16 has an annular dependingportion-18 provided with a substantially flat surface 19 joined to anannular vertical portion 20v at a circular corner 21. The corner 21 ofthe die member 16 has a sharp edge thereof slightly rounded to preventscoring of the end closure 14 subsequently formed between the diemembers 16 and 17.

An annular flat surface 22 surrounds the cylindrical,

projection 18 of the die means 16 and joins a vertically extendingannular wall 23 at a rounded corner 24.

The annular wall 23 of the die member 16 joins with a substantially flatannular outer wall 25, the outer wall 25 being above the flat wall 1-9.

An outer -annular auxiliary die member 26 is carried by the die means 16and is movable relative thereto to form a curl on the end closure 14 ina manner hereinafter described.

The die member 17 has a central circular flat portion provided with anupper surface 27. A raised annular portion 28 surrounds the centralportion 27 .and has a substantially flat horizontal upper surface 29joined to an arcuately cross-sectioned surface 30 formed on a largeradius, the flat surface 29 being disposed above the central surface 27of the die member 17.

The die member 17 includes an annular auxiliary die member 31 having anupper arcuately, cross-sectioned surface 32 terminating at the cornersthereof with a small inside and outside corner radius. The ydie member31 has vertically disposed side Walls 33 and 34.

While the die means 16 and 17 have each been illustrated as having onlytwo parts, it is to be understood that each die means 16 and 17 can beformed from one or any desired number of parts as desired.

When a flat blank of material forming the end closure 14 of thisinvention is disposed between the open die means 16 and 17 and,thereafter, formed into the end closure 14 in the manner illustrated inFIGURE 4, it can be seen that the die means 16 and 17 cooperate togetherto form the end closure 14 in a unique coniiguration having manyadvantages as will be apparent hereinafter.

In particular, the formed end closure 14 has a substantially iiathorizontal center wall portion 35. The outer edge 36 of the central wallportion 35 is integrally joined to the inner edge 37 of an `annularslanting flat band-like wall portion 38 which extends upwardly from thecentral portion 35.

The outer edge 39 of the slanting wall portion 38 is integrally joinedto an arcuately cross-sectioned annular band-like wall portion 40 at itsinner edge 41, the arcuately cross-sectioned portion 40 being formed onthe larcuately shaped surface 30 of the die means 17.

The outer edge 42 of the arcuate wall portion 40 is integrally joined tothe inner edge 43 of a substantially at horizontal annular band-likewall portion 44 having its outer edge 45 integrally joined to the loweredge 46 of a substantially vertically extending annular band-like wallportion 47 by an arcuately cross-sectioned portion 48 formed at thecorner of the surfaces 22 and 23 of the die means 16.

The upper edge 49 of the wall portion 47 is integrally joined to abead-forming portion 50 of the end closure 14.

The bead-forming portion 50 of the end closure 14 normally has a curl 51at the outer edge thereof while the central portion thereof forms asearning panel joined to the vertically extending wall portion or chuckwall 47 by a seaming panel radius. Similarly the arcuate portion 48 ofthe end closure 14 is normally dened as a chuck wall radius while thesubstantially at horizontal wall portion 44 is termed a chuck panel.

Accordingly, it can be seen that the end closures 14 and of thisinvention can be readily formed by the die means 16 and 17.

The end closure 14 is adapted to be secured to one of the open ends 12and 13 of the container body 11 in any suitable manner.

For example, reference is made to FIGURE 2 wherein the container body 11is formed of fiberboard laminations and the like whereby the verticalwall portion 47 of the end closure 14 is disposed inside the internalperipheral surface 52 of the container body 11 and the beadformingportion 50 thereof is seamed inwardly to grip the open end 12 of thecontainer body 11.

Alternately, the container body 11 can comprise metallic material orother composite material in the manner illustrated in FIGURE 3 and havethe upper end 53 thereof turned in a seaming fashion with the curlportion 51 of the closure 14.

Therefore, it can be seen that the end closure 14 of this invention canbe readily attached to the open ends 12 and 13 of the container body 11in any conventional manner.

By forming the end closure 14 of this invention in the configurationillustrated in the drawings, it has been found that the end closure 14withstands greater abuse than conventional end closures having the samegage or heavier gages than the gage of the end closure of thisinvention.

In particular, when the container 10 of this invention is dropped on theend closure 14, the contents of the container 10 provide an end thrustforce that tends to flatten the end closure 14. However, this end thrustforce is transferred into an outwardly directed radial force on the endclosure 14 that tends to tighten the vertical wall 47 of the end closure14 against the internal peripheral surface 52 of the container body 11whereby the securement between the end closure 14 and the container body11 is increased at the time the force is tending to force the endclosure 14 off the open end 12 or 13 of the container body 11.

Thus, it can be seen that the depressed central portion of the endclosure 14 of this invention when forced outwardly permits the sliantingwall portion 38 and arcuate wall portion thereof to tend to act as aleaf spring to urge the vertical wall portion 47 thereof into tightcontact with the ends 12 or 13 of the container body 11.

Since the arcuate wall portion 40 is provided with a relatively largeradius adjacent the initial point of end closure depression, the samereduces stiffness in this area of the end closure and enhances thespring-like properties of the end closure 14.

In particular, it has been found that in comparison tests between theend closure 14 of this invention and conventional end closures, the endclosures of this invention had greater abuse resistance results than theconventional end closures.

For example, the conventional end closure was formed of 0.0105 of aninch thick metallic material while end closures 14 of this inventionwere formed of like material having various thicknesses ranging from0.0094 of an inch thick to 0.0105 of an inch thick.

The test containers were dropped on the end walls thereof from adistance of approximately 36 inches wherein the conventional end closurefailed after an average of 19.1 drops while the 0.0094 of an inch thickend closure of this invention had a failure after an average of 78drops, the 0.010 of an inch thick end closure 14 of this invention had afailure after an average of 88.1 drops and the 0.0105 end closure ofthis invention had failure after an average of 48.8 drops.

Thus, it can be seen that the depressed end closure 14 of this inventionhas improved properties over conventional end closures even when the endclosure of this invention is formed of a thinner gage material than theconventional end closure.

Accordingly, it can be seen that this invention not only provides animproved container having increased abuse resistance over conventionalcontainers, but also this invention provides improved end closures forsuch containers or the like.

While the form of the invention now preferred has been disclosed asrequired by the statutes, other forms may be used, all coming within thescope of the claims which follow.

What is claimed is:

1. A container closure or the like having an outer peripheral beadforming portion, a substantially vertical band-like wall portionintegrally joined at its top edge to said bead forming portion andhaving its bottom edge adapted to be disposed against the interior sidewall means of a container, a substantially at horizontal bandlike wallportion integrally joined at its outer edge to the bottom edge of saidvertical wall portion, an arcuately cross-sectioned band-like wallportion integrally joined at its outer edge to the inner edge of said atband-like wall portion, said arcuate band-like wall portion having itsconcave side adapted to face into the interior of said container andhaving its outer edge defining the highest point of said arcuateband-like wall portion, a slanting substantially straight-linecross-sectioned band-like wall portion integrally joined at its outeredge tothe inner edge of said arcuate band-like wall portion with itsouter edge being the highest point of said slanting band-like wallportion, and a substantially flat horizontal center wall portionintegrally joined at its `outer edge to the inner edge of said slantingband-like wall portion and defining the lowest point of said closure.

2. A container closure or the like as set forth in claim 1 wherein allof said band-like wall portions are annular and said center wall portionis circular.

3. A container closure or the like as set forth in claim 1 wherein saidarcuate band-like wall portion has its cross-sectional arc defined by arelatively large radius.

4. A container closure or the like as set forth in claim 1 wherein saidcenter wall portion has a surface area greater than 50% of the surfacearea of said fiat, arcuate and slanting band-like wall portions.

5. In combination, a container body having an end and interior side wallmeans, a closure secured to said end of said container body, saidclosure having an outer peripheral bead-forming portion attached to saidend of said container body, a substantially band-like vertical Wallportion integrally joined at its top edge to said beadforming portion`and having its bottom edge disposed against said interior side wallmeans of said container, a substantially flat horizontal band-like wallportion integrally joined at its outer edge to the bottom edge of saidvertical wall portion, an arcuately cross-sectioned band-like wallportion integrally joined at its outer edge to the inner edge of saidfiat band-like wall portion, said arcuate band-like Wall portion havingits concave side facing into the interior of said container and havingits outer edge defining the highest point of said arcuate bandlikeportion, a slanting substantially straight-lined crosssectionedband-like wall portion integrally joined at its outer edge to the inneredge of said arcuate hand-like wall portion with its -outer edge beingthe highest point of said slanting band-like wall portion, and asubstantially fiat horizontal center wall portion integrally joined atits outer edge to the inner edge of said slanting band-like wall portionand defining the lowest point of said closure.

6. A combination as set forth in claim 5 wherein al1 of said band-likeWall portions of said closure are annular and said center wall portionthereof is circular.

7. A combination as set forth in claim 5 wherein said arcuate band-likewall portion of said closure has its cross-sectional arc defined by arelatively large radius.

8. A combination as set forth in claim S wherein said center wallportion of said closure has a surface area greater than of thecross-sectional surface area of said container body.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Re. 1,383 1/ 1863 Wilson et al.220-72 1,987,817 1/1935 Burns 220-66 2,321,408 6/ 1943 Mills et al.220-67 2,810,492 10/1-957 Bergen et al. 220-6-7 X 3,105,765 10/1963Greegan 2.20-66 X 3,111,240 11/ 1963 Whitton 220;-67 3,208,625 9/ 1965Trabacchi 220'-67 X FOREIGN PATENTS 25,537 12/ 1935 Australia. 873,1697/ 1961 Great Britain. 291,071 12/ 1931 Italy.

THERON E. CONDON, Primary Examiner.

JAMES R. GARRETT, Examiner.

1. A CONTAINER CLOSURE OR THE LIKE HAVING AN OUTER PERIPHERAL BEADFORMING PORTION, A SUBSTANTIALLY VERTICAL BAND-LIKE WALL PORTIONINTEGRALLY JOINED AT ITS TOP EDGE TO SAID BEAD FORMING PORTION ANDHAVING ITS BOTTOM EDGE ADAPTED TO BE DISPOSED AGAINST THE INTERIOR SIDEWALL MEANS OF A CONTAINER, A SUBSTANTIALLY FLAT HORIZONTAL BANDLIKE WALLPORTION INTEGRALLY JOINED AT ITS OUTER EDGE TO THE BOTTOM EDGE OF SAIDVERTICAL WALL PORTION, AN ARCUATELY CROSS-SECTIONED BAND-LIKE WALLPORTION INTEGRALLY JOINED AT ITS OUTER EDGE TO THE INNER EDGE OF SAIDFLAT BAND-LIKE WALL PORTION, SAID ARCUATE BAND-LIKE WALL PORTION HAVINGITS CONCAVE SIDE ADAPTED TO FACE INTO THE INTERIOR OF SAID CONTAINER ANDHAVING ITS OUTER EDGE DEFINING THE HIGHEST POINT OF SAID ARCUATEBAND-LIKE WALL PORTION, A SLANTING SUBSTANTIALLY STRAIGHT-LINECROSS-SECTIONED BAND-LIKE WALL PORTION INTEGRALLY JOINED AT ITS OUTEREDGE TO THE INNER EDGE OF SAID ARCUATE BAND-LIKE WALL PORTION WITH ITSOUTER EDGE BEING THE HIGHEST POINT OF SAID SLANTING BAND-LIKE WALLPORTION, AND A SUBSTANTIALLY FLAT HORIZONTAL CENTER WALL PORTIONINTEGRALLY JOINED AT ITS OUTER EDGE TO THE INNER EDGE OF SAID SLANTINGBAND-LIKE WALL PORTION AND DEFINING THE LOWEST POINT OF SAID CLOSURE.